I would like to commend the Monroe Times on a very thorough article on the future of the Monroe High School Band program (March 24). Different views were discussed and a clear picture was drawn for all of us to understand.
I would like to respectfully respond to school board member Larry Eakins' comment, however, that "the fact that CHIME hasn't come forward to offer continued funding also speaks clearly." I was involved on the CHIME committee three years ago and active in fundraising for the band program. The main reason CHIME has not come forward is very obvious - during this economic downturn, it would be very difficult to raise funds like that again. When many families are struggling to make ends meet, many charities are feeling the pinch, so asking for more would be very unadvisable at this point in time. It's purely an economic decision, not because we don't all firmly believe the current band program is worth saving.
The article also stated, when CHIME raised money three years ago, part of the plan was the possibility of up to three of the current band directors retiring at some point in the near future. I don't know what these directors are contemplating in that area, but I do know that during these "hard times in our economy" many of our retirement programs have taken a big hit. Many citizens throughout our country who are nearing retirement have been faced with the difficult decision if now is the right time to retire, or if they need to wait a while. Perhaps that is why their plan has changed, as well.
In addition, in response to Larry Brown's facts about the teacher-to-student ratio being 110.18-to-1 at other schools in the Badger Conference, while Monroe's is 86.5-to-1. Perhaps this is a very good reason why our band program is tops in Wisconsin. Many of our students who go on to college with a music major enter college at the upper level in their abilities because of the training they received in Monroe. Their college instructors comment that they already are college-level before they even started. Do we want to throw that away?
Mr. Henkel has been learning under these top-notch directors for a couple years now, and has proven to be top quality as well, and very dedicated to his profession. He has made it through the "learning curve" and adapted well to our culture - he is our future - do we want to start all over again a few years down the road? I commend the school board for wanting to discuss this more and think about it more before making a hasty decision. I hope they will think about the future, and not just today, when they make their decision.
Congratulations to everyone who plays a part in our fine music programs at Monroe schools - they are to be highly commended! Just as in our sports programs, it is important to support excellence wherever we find it in our schools, and this is undeniably an area of excellence at Monroe.
I would like to respectfully respond to school board member Larry Eakins' comment, however, that "the fact that CHIME hasn't come forward to offer continued funding also speaks clearly." I was involved on the CHIME committee three years ago and active in fundraising for the band program. The main reason CHIME has not come forward is very obvious - during this economic downturn, it would be very difficult to raise funds like that again. When many families are struggling to make ends meet, many charities are feeling the pinch, so asking for more would be very unadvisable at this point in time. It's purely an economic decision, not because we don't all firmly believe the current band program is worth saving.
The article also stated, when CHIME raised money three years ago, part of the plan was the possibility of up to three of the current band directors retiring at some point in the near future. I don't know what these directors are contemplating in that area, but I do know that during these "hard times in our economy" many of our retirement programs have taken a big hit. Many citizens throughout our country who are nearing retirement have been faced with the difficult decision if now is the right time to retire, or if they need to wait a while. Perhaps that is why their plan has changed, as well.
In addition, in response to Larry Brown's facts about the teacher-to-student ratio being 110.18-to-1 at other schools in the Badger Conference, while Monroe's is 86.5-to-1. Perhaps this is a very good reason why our band program is tops in Wisconsin. Many of our students who go on to college with a music major enter college at the upper level in their abilities because of the training they received in Monroe. Their college instructors comment that they already are college-level before they even started. Do we want to throw that away?
Mr. Henkel has been learning under these top-notch directors for a couple years now, and has proven to be top quality as well, and very dedicated to his profession. He has made it through the "learning curve" and adapted well to our culture - he is our future - do we want to start all over again a few years down the road? I commend the school board for wanting to discuss this more and think about it more before making a hasty decision. I hope they will think about the future, and not just today, when they make their decision.
Congratulations to everyone who plays a part in our fine music programs at Monroe schools - they are to be highly commended! Just as in our sports programs, it is important to support excellence wherever we find it in our schools, and this is undeniably an area of excellence at Monroe.
